Therapeutic composition comprising powdered maize cob



United States THERAPEUTIC COMPOSITION COMPRISING POWDERED MAIZE COBCleveland J. White, Chicago, Ill.

No Drawing. Application February 23, 1956 Serial No. 567,073

7 Claims. (Cl. 16758) This invention relates to novel compositionshaving unexpected utility in the treatment of skin malfunctions anddisorders. More particularly, it relates to the use of such compositionsin the treatment of those skin conditions characterized by extensivehyperhidrosis, inflammatory exudations, secondary infections associatedwith the foregoing, and the like.

In the therapy of such skin afflictions, powders of one kind and anotherare frequenly used for the intended purpose of forming a covering overand protecting the skin, at'least to sonre'extent, from air and from thefriction of clothing to minimize itching and burning sensations thatwould otherwise be present. In those situations where the skin has notbecome excoriated waterproof powders are sometimes useful in effectingprotections against macerations from secretions of a watery nature; suchWaterproofpowders are dermatropic in character and are thus especiallysuitable for protecting skin against irritations caused by such fluiddischarges as urinary secretions and the 'like.

. Where, on. the other hand, excoriation of the skin has occurred and aweeping surface is present, absorbent dusting powders are preferable tothe waterproof type because the former have a tendency to take up thefluid from the surface of the skin and elfect some degree of dryingaction.

Among the absorbent powders which have been used more or less,efiectively in the past are starch, talcum, chalk and kaolin, andvarious combinations of these; unfortunately none of these powders usedheretofore has been as effective as would be desirable, for reasonshereinafter pointed out. Thus, unless starch has associaited with it anantiseptic component it will, in the presence of a discharge on theskin, have a tendency to cake, decompose, and thereby lose itseffectiveness. Kaolin, talcum, chalk, bentonite, fullers earth andsimilar mineral products also, generally have associated with them boricacid, salicylic acid or some other antiseptic in order to minimizedecomposition in the absorbed discharge. However, while the use of boricacid, salicylic acid and other bactericidal and/or fungicidal additivesdoes minimize the decomposition of the absorbed discharge, use of suchproducts is not without disadvantages and even dangers, since someadditives can and will become absorbed by the body and result inpossible poisoning as has been recorded in the case of boric acidproducts used on infants. Because of their propensity to cake and/ordecompose, their negligible absorptive powers and for other reasons thepowder bases of the dusting powders used heretofore have not been aseffectual as would be desired, particularly in the treatment of thoseskin conditions where moisture is present either from an inflamedsurface or from areas of pronounced hyperhidro'sis.

The present invention now provides, and for the first time, acomposition which is surprisingly effective in the treatment ofexudative lesions in which the factor of excessive fiuid (inflammatory,hyperhidrotic, or infec- 2,80%,151 Patented June 9,- 1959 tious) isimportant, and in treating, for example, exudative lesions of fungus orbacterial origin located in the intertriginous areas or on plantarsurfaces of feet. My novel composition has also been found to haveunexpected etficacy when used in dermatological cases where there is amarked exudative element, as fungus or ringworm with secondary bacterialinfection. It is of symptomatic help in exfoliative dermatitis,pemphigus, exudative bullous erythema multiforme and carcinoma of skin,resulting in a high degree of symptomatic relief to the patient coupledwith an extremely effective minimization of odor, as well as in thetreatment of nonspecific superficial ulcerations of the skin.

In the treatment of the foregoing skin conditions, my composition, inthe form of a free-flowing powder, is used as a topical application onthe area being treated, the amount applied being sutficient to absorbthe exudative material. Surprisingly, the composition of the presentinvention has been discovered to be, per se, bac-teriostatic in itsnature, unlike powders composed of starch and the like which cake anddecompose when associated with the exudative material from the skin,unless formulated with bactericides. I have found in this connectionthat the application of my composition to exudative areas results in adrastic minimization of bacterial and mold growth in the treated area.Thus, it has been determined in a number of instances, that the bacteriacount of a skin in contact with my product has been reduced over in 36hours, and the fungus content reduced over 87% in 48 hours.

The mildly acidic (a representative pH being about 4.3) character of thepowdered cob component of my composition contributes to itscompatibility with normal glabrous skin, and is a complementaryadvantage.

My composition, derived from the cob of maize (Zea mays) has a preferredparticle size which ranges from approximately that which will just passthrough a mesh screen to that which will first be retained on a 400 meshscreen, and may be composed of the entire cob, or of components ormixtures of components thereof and including analgetic, fungicides,bactericides and the like, as will be described hereinafter.

The maize cob in transverse section comprises three zones. The outerzone, comprising approximately of the depth, is known as the glume. Theintermediate zone occupying approximately of the cob is known as thewoody ring and is positioned between the glume and the inner portion orthe pith. The pith comprises about the inner ,4 of the cob.

The glume aloneknown as bces'wing after 'grindingthough it may be usedin panticulated form under some conditions, is ordinarily too gritty andirritating for use in contact with most skins although it may be usedWhere this is not a factor.

The woody ring portion is generally more preferable than the glumeprovided that it is reduced to a particle size which is preferably notcoarser than that which passes through a 100 mesh screen and preferablyjust passes a 200 mesh screen, although particle sizes which will evenpass through a 400 mesh screen may be used if the resulting decrease inmoisture absorption character of the finer product is not of too muchmoment.

Generally speaking one of the most desirable parts of the cob forpurposes of this invention is the pith portion. The pith, as abovedescribed, when ground to suitable particle size, e.g., such that theaverage diameter is about 0.0015 to 0.006 inches, will absorb up toabout the maize cob, and the ground pith portion of the maize, whoseparticles have average diameter of about 0.0015 to about 0.006 inch havebeen successfully used in the treatment and control of exudativeinflammatory secretions and body odors originating with such secretions,as well as those stemming from hyperhidrotic conditions.

While the ground maize cob itself, in the foregoing forms, performsexcellently without additives, I have found that the incorporation ofcertain materials may be desirable in some circumstances. Thus, groundoatmeal in the amount of say, 5%, bentonite in the amount of 5%,cornstarch 5%, talcum 1% and similar additives may be added to theground maize cob compositions of my invention, and particularly when theparticle size of the maize composition is on the coarse side, appear tohave a soothing effect on the irritated skin areas being treated. Asmentioned hereinbefore, these materialsstarch, talcum, bentonite andsimilar starchy or inorganic products alone have been used in the pastas dusting powders but invariably have caked or decomposed, or both,when used alone. In the compositions contemplated herein wherein suchadditives are used in admixture with the ground maize cob in accordancewith my invention, no caking, crusting or decomposition results.

While, as indicated above, I have obtained outstanding results by theuse of ground maize cob, alone, or with the aforementioned additives,even more surprising and unexpected results have stemmed from my use, intreating skin conditions such as are described, of ground maize cob inassociation or combination with bactericides, fungicides and analgetics.

The exact reasons for this are not known, although it may be that themild buifering properties as well as the mildly acidic character of thepowdered maize cob component of such compositions is responsibletherefor.

Besides the ground cob itself, i.e. either the whole cob or componentsthereof in mesh sizes varying from that passing through a 50 mesh, andpreferably a 100 mesh screen up to that passing a 400 mesh screen whichcan be used with gratifying results by application of the particulatematerial to the skin area being treated, other representativecompositions which have been found to give excellent results whereresidual bacterial or fungus infections are involved are set forth indetail below.

In all instances where ground maize cob is specified it is pointed outthat the whole cob as well as fractional components thereof such as theglume, woody ring, or pith may be used and that the particle size mayvary from that passing through a 50 mesh and more preferably a 100 meshscreen up to a 400 mesh screen; the presently preferred mateiral is thatrepresented by the woody ring, and of a particle size such that theparticles pass through a US. 100 mesh screen.

While certain particular bactericidal and iungicidal materials arespecified for illustrative purposes it is to be understood that theseare not limiting and that, of course, other specific bactericides,fungicides and analgetics may be used. And while certain amounts arespecified it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that theamounts of bactericides, fungicides and analgetics used in such a powderare widely variable; generally speaking amounts over about ofbactericide, fungicide and analgetic based on the weight of the groundmaize cob are sometimes apt to be irritating to the skin, and amounts ofthe order of 5% or more desirably 3% and under are preferred.

Example I This composition was especially efficacious against Grampositive and Gram negative bacteria, Hypomycetes and Ascomycetes.

Example IV Percent Ground maize cob 96.5 Benzalkonium chloride 2.0Tyrothricin 1.0 Hexachlorophene 0.5 Example V Ground maize cob 98.5Acrizine chloride (phenacridine chloride) 1.0

Dichlorophene (2,2 dihydroxy-5,5' dichlorodiphenylmethane) 0.5

Example VI Ground maize cob 93.0

Thymol 2.0

Sodium iodide 3.0

Nitrofurazone 2.0

In practice, as already mentioned generally, my novel compositions aredusted, preferably in a layer on the surface of the skin to be treated,the layer being thick enough to absorb the exudate. The ground maizecob, either the glume, the woody ring, or pith portions, and in theparticle sizes described, can be sterilized, with dry heat, usingconventional equipment and techniques; in this condition the sterilizedproduct has been found to remain sterile as long as 19 months.

Besides the completely unexpected efiicacy of my composition in thetreatment of dermatoses wherein there is an exudative product of anaqueous nature, it has also been found to be beneficial as a topicalapplication in the treatment of oleosa seborrhea and in the control ofinfections associated with excessively oily skin.

It is, of course, understood that any of the convenient and well knowntechniques can be used in separating the glume, woody ring, and pithcomponents of the cob from each other and that the grinding itself canbe effected with conventional equipment, conveniently by means of anattrition mill operating at a speed of e.g. 1800 r.p.m. or other typesof crushing machines.

My composition, in the form of a fine powder comprising the whole maizecob or the glume, woody ring and pith portions or mixtures thereof,alone as well as in admixture with bactericides, fungicides, analgeticsand the like has been found to be extremely effective in the treatmentof skin afllictions of the described character, is unexpectedly superiorto prior art dusting powders, and is safe and simple to use.

And while my composition is described in terms of particularingredients, particle sizes, and ranges of components, to be used, it isobvious that many modifications and variations in the nature andportions of the ingredients may be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention and only such limitations should beimposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

This is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No.378,690 filed September 4, 1953, now abandoned.

I claim:

1. In the treatment of exudative dermatosis the improvement whichcomprises maintaining that zone of the skin where exudation occurs incontact with a finely divided composition in powder form, a majorportion of which comprises at least one member selected from the groupconsisting of the glume, the woody ring, and the pith of maize cob, saidmember having a particle size such that the particles pass through a 100mesh screen and are retained on a 400 mesh screen.

2. In the treatment of exudative dermatosis the improvement whichcomprises maintaining that zone of the skin where exudation occurs incontact with a finely divided composition in powder form a major portionof which is composed of at least one member selected from the groupconsisting of the glume, the woody ring, and the pith of maize cob, anda minor portion of a material selected from the group consisting offungicides and bactericides.

3. A method of combating secondary infections and the development ofodors associated with exudative dermatoses which comprises maintainingthe exudative area of the skin in contact with a finely divided compo-20 sition in powder form comprising a major portion of at least onemember selected from the group consisting of the glume, the woody ring,and the pith of maize cob.

4. An improved powder for inhibiting development of infectionsassociated With exudative dermatosis which comprises in combination amajor portion of finely divided powdered maize cob, having a particlesize such that the particles pass through a 100 mesh screen and areretained on a 400 mesh screen, and a minor portion of a materialselected from the group consisting of fungicides and bactericides.

5. An improved powder for inhibiting the development of infectionsassociated with exudative dermatoses which comprises in combination thefinely divided woody ring component of maize cob having a particle sizesuch that the particles pass through a 100 mesh screen and are retainedon a 400 mesh screen and a material selected from the group consistingof fungicides and bactericides.

6. An improved powder for inhibiting the development of infectionsassociated with exudative dermatoses which comprises in combination thefinely divided pith of maize cob having a particle size such that theparticles pass through a 100 mesh screen and are retained on a 400 meshscreen and a material selected from the group consisting of fungicidesand bactericides.

7. An improved powder for inhibiting the development of infectionsassociated with exudative dermatoses which comprises in combination beeswing having a particle size such that the particles pass through a 100mesh screen and are retained on a 400 mesh screen and a materialselected from the group consisting of fungicides and bactericides.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS139,116 Connell May 20, 1873 1,597,838 Stevens Aug. 31, 1931 2,733,145Karr et al Jan. 31, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 4,505 Great Britain Dec. 24,1875 361,233 Great Britain Nov. 19, 1931 734,624 Great Britain Aug. 3,1955 4,529 Great Britain of 1910 OTHER REFERENCES Merck Index, 6th ed.,Merck and Co., Rahway, N.J., 1952, pp. 112, 113 (Bacitracin) and 680(Nitrofurazone).

Merck Index, 5th ed., N.J., 1940, pp. 72-73. Morrison: Feeds andFeeding, 21st ed., N.Y., 1951,

1. IN THE TREATMENT OF EXUDATIVE DERMATOSIS THE IMPROVEMENT WHICHCOMPRISES MAINTAINING THAT ZONE OF THE SKIN WHERE EXUDATION OCCURS INCONTACT WITH A FINELY DIVIDED COMPOSITION IN POWER FORM, A MAJOR PORTIONOF WHICH COMPRISES AT LEAST ONE MEMBER SELECTED FROM THE GROUPCONSISTING OF THE GLUME, THE WOODY RING, AND THE PITH OF MAIZE COB, SAIDMEMBER HAVING A PARTICLE SIZE SUCH THAT THE PARTICLES PASS THROUGH A 100MESH SCREEN AND ARE RETAINED ON A 400 MESH SCREEN.